Metallic curbing for containing electrical wires



(No. Model.)

P. H. GRIFFIN. METALLIC CURBING FOR CONTAINING ELECTRICAL WIRES.

No. 310,271. Patented Jan. 6,1885.

Figi

"UNTTn STaTns PATENT CinnenAD I). HENRY GRIFFIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

METALLIC CURBING FOR CONTANING ELECTRICAL WiRES.

SPECIFICATION fori-ning part of Letters Patent No. 310,271, dated January 6, 1885.

Application filed September 10,1584. (No model.)

To all whom t may eo/Lccl'lt:

Beit known that I, l?. HENRY GRIFFIN, of Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Inrprovements in Metallic Curbings for Containing Electrical XVires; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which forni a part of this specification.

IIhis invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of metallic curbs of that class designed to be substituted for the ordinary stone curbings used at the sides of streets, and adapted to perform the double oitice of curbing and of concealing within itself telephone, telegrapl1,and all wires for electric purposes.

It is well known that many municipalities have passed ordinances requiring electric wires for all purposes to be removed from the poles upon. which they are ordinarily suspended,and carried under ground, and it has been the subject of much speculation, experiment, and inventive skill to determine in what manner this may be done with the most economical results.

To carry out the spirit of such ordinances, if not the exact letter, is the object of this invention, which consists in the peculiar combinations and the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more Vfully described and claimed.

Figure l shows a section of a paved street with my improved curbing in place. Fig. il is a perspective view of a single section of such curbing. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the saine.

In the accompanying drawings, which forni a part ot' this specification, A represents a cast-iron box,made of suitable size and shape to take the place of the curbstone at the edge of the pavement. This box is open at both ends, and is provided with a removable top or slide, B, which is provided with depending flanges c to hold it in place. In addition to this box performing the oiiicc oi" a curbstone, it is designed for the purpose oi' holding all kinds of electric wires, which are properly insulated, and which may be inclosed inpipes of lead or iron, or laid upon suitable racks in the box when a large number of wires are used.

It will readily be seen that such a box-curbing will provide a receptacle for the wires, so that in case of necessity of repairs the wires could always be got at without disturbing the pavement of the street or sidewalk, or digging up the earth. As pavements are always laid upon a grade sufficient to carry oit" the water ol' the surface, the curbing is laid always upon the same grade, and some means are usually employed at street-corners by which the gutters connect with underground sewers which receive the surfaeewater, so that should the box-curbing from any cause be illed or par tially filled with water it is so arranged as to discharge such water into the sewenopenings; but where such underground sewers are not provided I connect the box-curbing with a well, C, into which the water may drip from the curbing, and from whence it may be pumped ont, if required. W'here it is desired to make this curbing-box so that water will not enter it between the ends of the section, it should be cast upon the saine plan as waterpipes, with one end enlarged to embrace the adjacent end of its fellow section, and when laid packing of any suitable character is inserted between the joints thus made, or they may be cast with lugs at each end, so that the sections can be bolted together with packing between the ends thereof. At points where streetsiutersect it would be necessary to run the curbing-boxes under the pavement at such intersections, but the principal aim Ihave in view is to provide a means whereby the tearing up of streets to lay the pipe and other appliances of this nature could be dispensed with in a large measure, and where eighty or ninety per cent. of the receptacles for the wires would be at all times accessible when repairs become necessary to the inclosed wires. The preferable way, the curbing being laid as described, would be to insert the insulated wires (as many as necessary) in lead pipes, which may be done at the factory, ready to lay, as such pipes are uncoilcd, into the hollow curbs, drawing the end thereof through the hollow curb when the same is laid under the street at intersections.

I am aware of the Patent No. 249,400, and make no claim to the construction shown therein as forming part of my invention.

I am also aware of the Patents Nos. 235,611

IOO

and 281,655, and make no elainl to the constructions shown therein as forming` part of my invention.

/Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. The metallic curbingherein described, consisting,` of the metallic box A, having two snbstantially vertical sides, a closed bottoni, and an Open top, with an opening, a', at thcjunction of one of the sides with the bottom, and

1o provided with a removable top having` de pending ianges a, substantially as described. 2. The metallic curbing; herein described, 

